What are the four elephants and what are the four mythical beasts?

Green dragon, white tiger, red bird, and Xuanwu are called the four elephants (four beasts). The directions represented by the four elephants are:

1. The seven constellations in the east: like flying in spring and early summer The giant dragon in the night sky, so it is called "East Palace Canglong";

2. Southern Qisu: Like a flying red bird, it appears in the night sky in summer and early autumn, so it is called "Nangong Red Bird" ;

3. The seven constellations in the west: It looks like a fierce tiger leaping out of the night sky in late autumn and early winter, so it is called the "white tiger in the west palace";

4. The seven constellations in the north: it looks like snakes and turtles appear. In the night sky in cold winter and early spring, it is called "Beigong Xuanwu".

In addition, the ancients matched it with yin and yang, the five elements, the five directions, and the five colors. The four images also incorporated the five elements and directions, represented by different colors: cyan in the east is wood, white in the west is gold, and red in the south It is fire, and the black color in the north is water. It is also used in military camps and ranks to become the protector of marching battles. For example, "Book of Rites: Qu Li Shang" says: "When marching, the red bird (bird) in front and the black dragon behind, and the green dragon on the left White tiger on the right, swaggering above.

Extended information:

In ancient China, in order to observe the movements of the sun, moon and five stars, the area near the ecliptic and the equator was divided into 28 constellations, commonly known as The twenty-eight constellations are divided into four groups, which are respectively matched with the four geographical locations and four groups of animal images. They are named Qinglong, White Tiger, Suzaku and Xuanwu respectively. According to the directions, seasons and four signs, it is divided into four palaces: east, south, west and north, with seven constellations in each palace.

The twenty-eight constellations are:

1 Dongfang Canglong. Seven Constellations: Jiao, Kang, Di, Fang, Xin, Wei, Ji

2 Northern Xuanwu Seven Constellations: Dou, Ox, Female, Xu, Danger, Room, and Wall

3 The seven constellations of the white tiger in the west: Kui, Lou, Wei, Pleiades, Bi, Xi, and Shen

4 The seven constellations of the white tiger in the south: well, ghost, willow, star, Zhang, Yi, Zhen

Each constellation contains a number of stars. As one of the important components of traditional Chinese culture, it has been widely used in ancient astronomy, religion, literature, astrology, horoscopes, Feng Shui, auspicious calculations, etc.

Baidu Encyclopedia—Four Elephants

Baidu Encyclopedia—Four Divine Beasts

Baidu Encyclopedia—Twenty-eight Constellations